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Thursday, December 4, 2014

A Day in Pictures

Ok, so, I had planned to take pictures all day Tuesday and have the post up yesterday. Did that happen? Of course not. See, I threw my neck out this weekend and have had a hell of a time recovering.  Figuring better late than never is a good way to go, I decided to take pictures all day yesterday.

After I dropped the kids off at school, I came home, made oatmeal and finally caught up on Sunday's "Once Upon A Time"


I finally got around to making our Christmas cards.


Then, I caught up on the latest "Degrassi". Don't judge....it's my thing.

I decided to get dressed around 10 a.m.....these were my jewelry choices.

Ugh...a small amount of housework got done. Stupid neck.

Waiting for the kids to get out of school.

After their homework and dinner, they laid around watching cartoons for a bit.

While the kids were watching cartoons, I was enjoying a nice mug of hot chocolate.....nom nom nom

Fearing the never ending search of the perfect present, I spent my evening in Toys R Us, looking for Zoomer Zuppies and stocking stuffers. It was a success!

After I came home from the toy store, David and I just sat around watching "Chopped" and "South Park". Normally, more housework would have gotten done. I just wish my neck hadn't gone out. Oh well!  It wasn't super exciting, but that was my Wednesday!

Monday, December 1, 2014

December Goals



Ah, the start of a new month.  I always feel like a new month holds promise and hope that things will change for the better.  I've never been one to make goals, because I feel like a goal is something I can easily blow off and not feel bad about it.  Making lists is more my thing, as it seems more like it's something I HAVE to do to feel good about myself.  This month, I'm going to make a list of my goals and put it out there for people to hold me to!  Maybe then, I will actually do it. 

Goal #1: Lose 5 lbs by Christmas. ( I have no excuses for this. We got a gym membership and I have 5 days of my week free to do what I want.)

Goal #2:  Make our Christmas cards and have them sent out by the end of the first week. (David is doing no shave November, so he wants to not look like a grizzly bear for the picture.)

Goal #3:  Have the house pristine by the time we leave for the Holidays. (Who wants to come home from vacation to a messy house?)

Goal #4:  Get myself dressed, hair done, makeup on, at least 3 days out of each week.  (I really am getting lazy and I think David would love to come home to someone who looks like she tried that day.)

Goal #5:  Finish reading "Frankenstein".  (I've been trying to read this book for weeks....)

Goal #6:  Follow my blog schedule. (Yeah, I'm lazy...)

I think that's enough for such a busy month. We are/have constant visitors this month, so I didn't really have the leisure of taking my time to get the Holiday shopping done. We are almost completely done buying for family and friends. I'm really looking forward to traveling and giving and spending time with family.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Kids, I'm a person, too...

20 years old and nuts

I want my children to know that, yes, their mother is a person too.

Children, I am not a chaffeur, chef, nurse, negotiator, referee. These are just roles I take on to give you what you want and need. Please, let me tell you who I really am.

I am a lover. Your father is the love of my life and always will be.  There is nothing he could do to get rid of me.  He irritates the hell out of me, yet, even as I yell at him, I'm not truly angry.  Even if we are in a fight that lasts for days, I still crave his touch.  He is my kryptonite.  He owns a rather large piece of my heart.  He is one of the very few people I ever want to spend time alone with, at home or in public. 

Boys, I am a reader. I'm hoping that this gets passed onto you.  It is so important to me to get lost in a story, in an alternate reality. You might notice that it takes me a long time to finish a book, though.  There is a reason.  I read and reread a sentence or paragraph over and over again, imagining in my head the picture those words are painting.

I am a woman.  There are a lot of issues and wonderful things associated with being a woman.  My emotions run high.  I enjoy girlie things like makeup, chick flicks, cuddles, kitties, and pretty dresses.  It also means that I demand affection and understanding.  I need to know that I'm going to have people in my life that are not going to walk away or hide when I need them.

Boys, I am a friend.  I have very few friends, but the ones I do have, I appreciate.  I know that I can rely on these people and tell them anything. I enjoy going out and having the pleasure of their company.  They are important, since I too, need human contact to place bits of happiness into my life.  They also know that they can speak to me about absolutely anything and I will be there for them always.

I am a daughter. My mother means the world to me.  While I've always thought of her as more of a friend in my adult life, I value her opinion and take that into account.  I know that I can rely on her if I ever have a problem.  I am also incredibly proud of her.

I am a night-owl. My most productive time of day is between 6 pm- 12 am.  This is when I have the most energy and motivation.  You may notice this, the older you get.

I am not a people person.  If I truly click with someone, it's basically a miracle.  Also, if we do click, it's likely that I will do my best to keep that person in my life as long as possible.  I hope that you find true people in your lives.

I am a bit nerdy.  No, I am not full on gamer or hardcore into anything, but I do enjoy things other people would consider nerdy.  I am a book nerd. The only game that I do play, The Sims, I am obsessed with.  Give me a choice of a girlie romance or a Marvel movie, and I will pick those comic book guys any day.  

I am a planner.  This is something that you will notice as you get older.  I have two calendars, a white board, and one or two planners in play at all times. I covet notebooks for making lists and awesome looking pens grab my attention.  If something is not planned for a day, I have a hard time accepting any suggestions, because I'd rather use it for an extra cleaning day or lounging about the house in my pajamas.

These, boys, are only a few things that I want you to know about me. You will learn more and I hope that you realize and develop your own characteristics about yourselves.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Last week in pictures

Last week was, admittedly, boring. But, isn't every day life pretty uneventful in the first place?  

The boys are now "high white belts" and were both named "white belts of the month"

I found this awesome nude nail polish at Target on clearance. It's a Maybelline Colorstay

I headed out to Dollar Tree and found these beauties. $4 total

I realized that my yard is super fall-like. Look at those big beautiful mums!

I went to my hair appointment and realized I had NO UMBRELLA

New hair, new hair!

My favorite new pants Old Navy Pixie Pants

These two had great dental appointments!

Friday, October 17, 2014

What I Love About Fall...


Fall is most definitely my favorite season.  There are so many reasons why it's my favorite. Mostly, the reasons are super cute. :)

1. Babies in costumes for halloween.

2.  Leaves changing colors.

3.  The smells of burning leaves and crisp cool air.

4.  Fall TV: Once Upon A Time, Reign, The Originals, Vampire Diaries, etc, etc.

5.  Pretty sweaters and riding boots.

6.  Taking the kids trick-or-treating


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I Believe In...


In life, you must believe in something.  I am not spiritual or religious, but I believe in things that will make little bits of happy in my life.

I believe in...

1. The healing power of kitty cuddles. Who doesn't love the head butt of love?

2. Love.  The most inconvenient, annoying, penetrating, can't live without each other kind of love. Perfection is no fun.

3.  Bubble baths. I like to read a chapter or two of whatever book I'm reading at the time and just soak. It's definitely a stress reliever.

4. Dainty jewelry.  Small pieces can make the biggest difference.

5.  Not dressing your age. I truly believe in wearing whatever makes you feel good.  This is my favorite shirt and I am not ashamed.

6.  Novelty socks.  Most of the time, people never see your socks out in the real world.  Why not have something fun for yourself?

7.  Reading whatever you want.  Never read "Charlotte's Web"?  Read it now, no matter how old you are.  I'm currently reading the Harry Potter series, because I didn't read them when they first came out, and I always wanted to. So, I am.


What are some things you believe in?


 

Monday, October 13, 2014

People bug me...


Okay, I am, self-admittedly, NOT a people person.  I can be super friendly to people I believe deserve my friendliness.  If not, well....I'm not the most pleasant, and I acknowledge this.  There are a lot of things that bother me about people, but some outweigh others. Here are some of the silly, trivial ones.

1. Not saying "excuse me"/pushing past:  This bothers me to no end. It's not hard to open your mouth and utter these words. If you need past and I'm not paying attention, please say this so I can hear you. I will gladly move aside and say something pleasant to acknowledge your politeness.

2.  Stopping the microwave in the middle of a time and not clearing the time away:  I know that sometimes, you think you put your food in for too long and took it out. That's fine. But please, clear your time so I don't have to. 

3.  Northern Virginia drivers:  If you've ever been in the D.C. metro area, you know what I'm talking about.

4.  Parking next to me in an empty lot:  Seriously?  The entire lot is empty, and you NEED to park right next to me? What is this?

I realize these are super silly, but I can't help it. What annoys you about other people?

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Thursday Journal


First, I must apologize for my absence. I've had some personal issues to deal with. 

It's Thursday, which means, it's journal entry day!  What's today's prompt?

"You want a new _____."

Oh my gosh, what do I want?!  There are so many things I want; a new spine, colon, knees, feet, etc. But those aren't really things I can get new.  So, blah.  

I want a new camera. Something super awesome and fancy and impossibly expensive.  

I want a new sense of motivation, if I'm being honest.  It's what I need most of all in my life.  

What do YOU want new?

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Signs you're getting older - according to my kids


Do you ever see someone doing something and think, "Aren't they a little old to do that?"  I do all the time...all...the...time.  I sat my boys down and asked them how they knew they were getting older. Is there something you can do now that you didn't do before?  Are you too big to do/have certain things? Here's what they had to say.


They're silly :p

Friday, September 26, 2014

Weekly Fitness and Meal Plan


This past week has been out of the ordinary. I'm sorry to say that just about all of my goals got thrown out the window, but it was for a very good reason!  My poor Lil'D got bronchitis on Saturday, so I quarantined him and I in his bedroom and had a movie marathon for a few days. It seems to have worked too, since David and Mr. M miraculously are illness free. Unfortunately, I've got some kind of sinus thing going on and it's making me super dizzy/nauseous. *ugh*

Now that I'm on the mend, though, let's make some goals:

Saturday
Breakfast: Pumpkin flax granola (I eat this like cereal with almond milk)
Lunch: Detox Salad
Exercise: Shopping (it counts as cardio right?)

Sunday
Breakfast: Pumpkin flax granola
Lunch: Detox Salad
Dinner: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Exercise: Power walk 1 mile

Monday
Breakfast: Pumpkin flax granola
Lunch: Detox salad

Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal & fruit
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Baked "fried" Chicken & mashed potatoes
Exercise: Power walk 1.5 mile

Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal & fruit
Lunch: Tuna pita pockets
Exercise: Yoga for beginners

Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal & fruit
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Cheeseburgers
Exercise: Power walk 2 miles

In addition, I will also be snacking on vittles like.....fruit, raw veggies, skinny popcorn, sunflower seeds, raisins, etc.

The boys have Monday off, so maybe I can get them to do yoga with me!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Thursday's Journal Entry






Today's journal question:

Do you plan, or are you flying by the seat of your pants?

I try so hard to plan things out. I plan meals, daily chores, shopping trips, activities. If I don't plan anything, I don't do anything. My lack of motivation is seriously depressing. Unfortunately, even if I write everything down, sometimes I ignore it all and just do my own thing. I'm trying very hard to improve myself and hope to stick to it.







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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

A Day in My Life (typically)

A day in my life is not what I would call glamorous, exciting, or enviable. If I'm being honest, it's downright dull.  The past week has been dedicated to taking care of my sick boy, who is getting over bronchitis, and then taking care of myself yesterday and today after catching some sort of illness.  Let's pretend all this didn't happen and take a look at what I would normally do.

7:00 am:  Get up, check calendar, weather, and social media
7:15 am: Make sure the boys are up and getting ready for school
7:20 am: Head downstairs to make the boys' lunches and snacks
7:30 am: Boys are down eating breakfast
7:45 am: Make sure all papers, notes, library books, etc. are in their backpacks
8:00 am: Off to school!
8:30 am: Make my own breakfast and coffee/tea and watch whatever I had DVR'd the previous night.
10:00 am: Exercise
11:00 am: Shower and get big girl clothes on (maybe do makeup and hair)
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 - 2:45 pm: Do whatever cleaning I want to do, then read blogs, maybe work on my own
3:15 pm: Pick up boys
3:45 pm: Help boys with homework
5:00 pm: Fix dinner
6:00 - 8:00 pm: whatever I want
8:30 pm: boys go to bed
8:45-11:00 pm: Adult time with my honey

Also, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, the boys have Tae Kwon Do for an hour.

How cute are they

Friday, September 19, 2014

Weekly Fitness Goals


It's time to get my life on track!

Yesterday, I posted that I wanted to get started on eating healthier, cleaner, more organically.  Today is the day that it all starts. This is officially DAY 1!

My starting weight is 178.4 lbs and my happy weight is 135. That's 43.4 lbs to lose.  I should say that, to get here, I gained 50 lbs. while I was pregnant, then became severely depressed and did nothing about the weight gain.  I don't plan on only losing, but also gaining muscle, toning, and regaining flexibility.  Each Friday I will post a weekly update, meal plan, and exercise goals I hope to accomplish. 

Day 1: 178.4 lbs. 
Weight loss: 0 lbs.

Friday:
Breakfast: Oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: out to eat with my love
Dinner: Black bean and quinoa burgers and sweet potato fries
Snack:  skinny popcorn, herbal tea

Saturday:
Breakfast: oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: Detox salad
Snack: yogurt
Dinner: Chicken, white rice, veggie
Snack: skinny popcorn, herbal tea (or wine)

Sunday: 
Breakfast: oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: Detox salad
Snack: yogurt
Dinner:  Red bean, chicken, and sweet potato stew
Snack: skinny popcorn, herbal tea (or wine)

Monday: 
Breakfast: oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: Detox salad
Snack: yogurt
Dinner: Quinoa with sausage and peppers
Snack: cauliflower

Tuesday:
Breakfast: oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: Detox salad
Snack: cauliflower
Dinner: Beef stew
Snack: tbd

Wednesday:
Breakfast: oatmeal, fruit, herbal tea
Lunch: Tuna and cauliflower
Snack: tbd
Dinner:  Albanian chicken (Pule me Arra) with rice and veggie
Snack: tbd

Thursday:
shopping day
usually a cheat day (pizza)

As for exercise, daily I walk to pick up my boys from school. This totals to half a mile.  In addition to that, these are my goals.

Friday:
Walk the boys to school (.25 mile)
Walk 1 mile additional
Pick up boys (.5 mile) 
Total: 1.75 miles

Saturday: 
Mountain hike at Great Falls Park

Sunday: 
Walk 2 miles

Monday:
School walk (.75 mile)
Walk 1.25 mile additional
Total: 2 miles

Tuesday:
School walk (.75 mile)

Wednesday:
School walk (.75 mile)
Walk 1.5 mile additional
Total: 2.25 miles

Thursday:
School walk (.75 mile)
Walk 1.75 mile additional
Total: 2.5 miles
Grocery shopping (reusable bags get heavy!)

There we have it. I'm really hoping that I can stick to this plan and get my life and body back to where I can be comfortable in my own skin.  This is just the beginning and I am really looking forward to starting this journey.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Thursday's Journal Entry

I own a Q&A a day journal.  It's super awesome and exciting.  You can find it here: Q&A a day.

The journal covers one question per day and the question repeats every year.  It will be neat to see how my answers change from year to year. 

Here is today's question:  September 18, 2014: A decision you made today _________.

Today I made the decision to eat more clean.  More organics, vegetables, and not as much meat.  Hooray!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

A Hairvolution

Over the past few years, my hair has taken a lot of crap from me.  Dyes, cuts, hard water, treatments, hot styling tools.  Finally, though, my hair is taking a healthy turn and looks better than ever. Let's take a look.

2008 *fried and tortured by hard water*



2010 *dyed and curled*

2011 *healthy!*
2012

2012

2012 *chopped off everything myself*
2013

2013

2014 *the big cut*

2014 *healthy and starting over*
2014 summer *first time texturizing with hot tools*
Has anyone else gone through a hairvolution?  Was it to revitalize your hair or just because you were bored?